LIVERMORE – The Western Maine Medical Reserve Corps is on alert in preparation for possible activation due to the swine flu outbreak.

The volunteer organization provides support to the health care system when it becomes overwhelmed in emergencies or major events, said Kevin Saisi, unit coordinator.

The group has been working to boost membership and is now looking for more volunteers, he said. A number of members are available in Oxford County, but the organization looks to expand its capabilities into the Jay-Livermore Falls area and eventually more of Franklin and Androscoggin counties.

The goal is to have the three counties covered by community teams able to assist Maine Center for Disease Control and local hospitals with secondary care facilities, dispensing medications and special needs shelters, he said.

Peggy Dwyer of Livermore is the region coordinator in the Jay/Livermore area. David Saphier is the region coordinator in Northern Oxford County and Mike Hatch is the region coordinator for Central Oxford County.

The Western Maine Medical Reserve Corps is part of a nationwide program coordinated nationally by the U.S. Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General and, in Maine, by the Maine CDC.

While doctors and nurses are all welcome, medical experience is not necessarily needed, he said. There are a variety of needs for people in different support functions, including administrative and other support tasks.

A recent drill at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School centered on one task for the Medical Reserve Corps, setting up a secondary health care facility, he said. Other areas they cover include helping with dispensing medications and working with emergency management programs and the Red Cross to support evacuation of people with medical, behavioral and mental health challenges, he said.

For those who have already expressed interest in the Reserve Corps, the first step is awareness or letting them know they may be needed in the near future, he said. They could be called upon to help.

Those interested in helping the corps should call 357-1821 and leave a message, or e-mail: [email protected] and include all contact information.